Ontario invests $75 million to cut wait times for home care to 5 days

TORONTO – The Ministry of Health is putting up $75 million to help more patients get care at home within Ontario’s five-day wait time target.

Health Minister Eric Hoskins says the money will support more home visits for people who need nursing services and more hours of care for people who need personal support such as help dressing and bathing.

The province allocated an additional $270 million this year for the home and community care sector.

The government says 93 per cent of eligible patients receive their first nursing visit within five days of being approved for home care.

And 84 per cent receive a visit from a personal support worker within the five-day wait time target.

Hoskins says Ontario will also spend $9.7 million this year to train personal support workers to deal with specific conditions such as dementia.